Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival 2026 Confirmed Major festival
長野えびす講煙火大会 — Nagano (Koshinetsu)
- Date
- Mon, November 23, 2026
- Time
- 6:00 PM
- Venue
- Sai River sports field, Nagano (犀川第2緑地(長野大橋西側))
- Scale
- ~10,000 fireworks · ~400K visitors
- Official site
- www.nagano-ebisukou.jp
The Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival is Japan's great cold-weather show: 10,000 shells on November 23 in mountain air so clear and dry that colors cut sharper than any summer festival. It is famous among enthusiasts for its two-company starmine duel — Nagano's finest pyrotechnicians answering each other program for program — and for the giant wide starmines that close it.
Background
Held since 1899 as part of the Ebisuko merchant festival, it has run for well over a century and built its reputation on being a craftsman's show: late-season, high-precision, watched in winter coats.
Getting there
The venue is the Sai River sports field southwest of the city; shuttle buses run from JR Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen, about 80–100 minutes from Tokyo), or it's a 30-minute walk.
Tips
- Dress for near-freezing: down jacket, gloves, insulated footwear and a thermos change the whole experience.
- The clarity of late-autumn air genuinely improves the fireworks — photographers rate Ebisuko's conditions the best in Japan.
- November 23 is a national holiday; trains back to Tokyo run late enough for a same-day return if you book the last Shinkansen ahead.
- The starmine duel in the middle of the program is the connoisseur's highlight — don't step away for food during it.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival 2026?
- Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival 2026 takes place on Mon, November 23, 2026 in Nagano. Fireworks start around 6:00 PM.
- Where is Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival held, and where should you watch from?
- Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival is held at Sai River sports field, Nagano in Nagano. The venue is the Sai River sports field southwest of the city; shuttle buses run from JR Nagano Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen, about 80–100 minutes from Tokyo), or it's a 30-minute walk.
- How many fireworks are launched at Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival?
- Around 10,000 fireworks are launched, drawing roughly 400,000 visitors.
- Is Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival free to attend, or do I need tickets?
- Most hanabi festivals in Japan are free to watch from public riverside areas, parks, or streets near the venue, though some offer paid reserved seating for a clearer view. Check the official site for this event's specific arrangement.
Last verified against the official source: Sun, July 5, 2026
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